Tuesday – 29th Week in Ordinary Time, Year A
By: Deacon Bill Frere
Gospel – Luke 12: 35-38
Homily Theme: Buckle Up, Buttercup
Home Sweet Home
Exactly 40 years ago today, October 24, 1983, Ginger and I bought our home! Built back in 1906, it certainly has its share of quirks and oddities. In the beginning, it still had all its original windows. For me, that meant that, at every change of season, I would have to go outside on a ladder (relax, this is not another ‘ladder’ story) and swap the full length wooden screens with the full length wooden storm windows. It was a long and exhausting chore. But it was necessary if we were to be fully prepared for winter in Chicago. Thankfully the task today is much simpler and less time-consuming. All the swapping of storm windows today happens inside the house and, as a bonus, it doesn’t require the use of a ladder.
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In either case, preparation is the key. And that is what Jesus is addressing in today’s Gospel – be prepared! Be prepared for the Kingdom, for the Master. You can’t just sit around and pretend winter isn’t coming! You can’t just ignore the signs and then suddenly rush around in a flurry of activity at the last minute when the storm hits! Jesus calls us to approach every day as a day of preparation.
Jesus makes it very clear – this is work and it’s daily work. Gird your loins! That is not an expression most of us are familiar with but it’s very appropriate here. Literally it means something like to hike up your pants, tighten up your belt, roll up your sleeves, and get to work! I keep getting this image of “buckle up, buttercup, it’s gonna be a bumpy ride.”
The days are growing darker; the nights are getting longer! The Master is on His way! Are you ready? Are you prepared?
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